The Top 10 Greatest Snooker Players of All Time

The best snooker players of all time

There have been many great snooker players throughout history, and it can be difficult to definitively rank them. However, here are some of the best ever snooker players based on their achievements, influence, and impact on the game:


10. Cliff Thorburn

Cliff Thorburn was the first player to make a maximum break in the world championships and won the title in 1980. He was a major influence on the development of the game in Canada and helped to popularise snooker in North America.


9. Alex Higgins 

Fan favourite, Alex Higgins, was a Northern Irish professional snooker player and a two-time world champion who is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the sport's history. Higgins had flair, speed, and wonderful shot making skills, to go with a popular personality. 

8. Jimmy White

Jimmy "Whirlwind" White was arguably the most gifted player to never win the world championships. However, the six-time finalist (four of those defeats were at the hands of Stephen Hendry) was one of the most popular players to ever play the game, due to his masterful shot making, and likeable personality. 

7. Mark Williams

Mark Williams has won three world championships and 23 ranking titles, and is known for his flamboyant style of play and his ability to produce big breaks when it matters most. The popular Welshman has been a constant force since his debut in the 90s. 

6. Mark Selby 

Mark Selby has won four world championships and 20 ranking titles, and is known for his tenacity and ability to grind out victories. Selby isn't the most enjoyable to watch, but he's certainly one of the most efficient players to have even played the sport. 

5. John Higgins

John Higgins has won four world championships and 31 ranking titles, and is known for his exceptional cueing and tactical skills. Higgins is one of the most naturally gifted players to have ever played the game, with a high snooker IQ, and a wonderful consistency over four decades. 

4. Ray Reardon

Ray Reardon was the first player to win six world championships and was dominant in the 1970s. He was known for his tactical and defensive play and was a major influence on the game.

3. Steve Davis

Steve Davis was the dominant player in the 1980s, winning six world championships and 28 ranking titles. He helped to popularise snooker in the UK and was instrumental in the growth of the game in the 1980s.

2. Ronnie O'Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan is one of the most talented and naturally gifted players to have ever played the game. He has won seven world championships and 37 ranking titles (as of April 2023), and holds the record for the most competitive century breaks.

1. Stephen Hendry

Stephen Hendry is widely considered to be the greatest snooker player of all time, with seven world championships and a record 36 ranking titles to his name. He dominated the sport in the 1990s, winning five world titles in a row from 1992 to 1996. Hendry may have slipped off after the turn of the century, but there was no one better than the Scotsman during his golden peak period. 

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